Cypress Cay Cayman SLE

Published online: Sep 09, 2013Boat Test Monday

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What You Need To Know

There is a lot to love about this Cayman from Cypress Cay, but even if you only focused on just the stern of the boat you'd be hooked. Nothing appears to be an afterthought as we love the overall layout and design of this 26-footer from bow to stern.

The Highlights

Starting with the exterior, the pewter-colored panels with platinum sliver graphics only add to the high-end luxurious feel Cypress Cay was going for. Inside the boat, the bow area has a unique design that includes a long bench with a built-in chaise lounge on the starboard side and the port side includes two helm chairs. This layout really opens up the boat and makes it feel larger that it actually is. Between the two bow helm chairs is a great space-saving flip-up table that is solid and easy to use.

Angled speakers can be found throughout the boat, which are ideal to get the most out of the upgraded sound system. The Sony stereo with Bluetooth also includes a docking station for your MP3 player, which is all part of the standard package. The upgrade includes Alpine Blue Water speakers, amplifier and subwoofer.

The helm is very attractive-looking and includes a Mercury multi-function gauge, as well as full instrumentation. There is also a lockable glove box for the captain, which is something we always like to see. Also worth noting is the large drainable, built-in cooler that is just forward of the helm.

In the stern is a nice L-shaped lounge and below is the engine compartment for the MerCruiser and to gain access you simply press a button to activate the electric hatch. But what makes the rear bench unique is the adjustable backrest that can pivot forward to create a rear-facing lounge on the swim deck. This multi-function design doesn't stop here. This area also includes two Sony stereo remotes and for the rear lounger you also have a 12-volt outlet as well as MP3 jack. Plus the drainable storage under the lounger is ideal for storing wet lifejackets and ski ropes, which goes to show you the engineers at Cypress Cay are truly boaters and understand what unique features need to be on the boat.

Also in the stern just outside the stainless steel gate is a nice non-skid flooring that complements the plush carpet that is in the majority of the boat, as well as a ski/tow pylon and a telescopic boarding ladder.

Inspection Notes

On the three 25-inch diameter pontoons the lifting strakes are on the insides of the outside tubes and on both sides of the center `toon. Overall this boat earned high marks for its quality craftsmanship, layout and design, as well as fit and finish work. You can add a safety rail in the stern as an option so you can enjoy the rear loungers while the boat is underway, which was our only safety concern.

Performance Evaluation

With the MerCruiser 350 MAG MPI Bravo 3 outdrive, our zero to 20 mile per hour time of just 5 seconds truly impressed us. At full throttle we reached speeds over 45 mph, but it's the way the `toon dives into the sharp turns that we enjoyed the most. This is an extremely fun boat to drive.

Final Thoughts

She's quick to plane and fun to drive, but it's the quality of construction and the overall design that we love the most about this boat. Plus when you consider all of the standard features as well as those key options that are included as-tested, this Cypress Cay is hard to beat.

Number of Occupants14

Price As Tested With Power$68.6K

Maximum Speed46.1 mph

Wild Ponies300hp

No. of Gates3

0-20 MPH5.0 seconds

Ladder Measurement3' 3" deep

Why we love this boat.With all the high-end luxurious features, the power and performance is overshadowed. This is a fun boat to drive that handles like a dream.

Just being picky.As-tested this `toon is loaded with plenty of great standard features, but to be considered the ideal family model we'd like to see a changing room onboard.